Get Your Spirit in Shape - United Methodist Podcast

As we honor Hispanic Heritage Month, the Rev. Dr. Lydia Munoz reminds us of the importance of listening to one another’s stories and respecting one another’s journeys as we live into a diverse and inclusive church that encompasses a rich tapestry of Hispanic and Latine heritage in the U.S.

More information and a full transcript of this conversation are available here.

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“Racism is the air we breathe, the water we swim in,” says the Rev.  Dr. Donnell FitzJeffries.

In this conversation about the complexities of racism, and the challenges of honest conversations, we are encouraged to be “holy surprised” at how the church an lead the way to be transformed by our collective diversity.

More information and a full transcript of this conversation are available here.

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In a poignant and powerful conversation about faith and loss, Julie Hilliard Wood, a lifelong United Methodist, shares her family’s story of how homophobia and rejection within the church had devastating consequences and reminds us of how critically important it is to create safe and loving spaces for all of God’s children.

More information and a full transcript of this conversation are available here.

For more information or to purchase Wood’s book, “Changing the Message: Cruelty to Persons Who are Gay is Incompatible with Christian Teaching,” visit this link.

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Even as we believe our differences are our downfall, scripture tells us that diversity is the source of our beauty. The Rev. Beth Crissman discusses the Purple Church Initiative, a guide to harmony that challenges us to take up Jesus’ call to be ambassadors of peace, and how, as John Wesley taught, to be of one heart though we are not of one opinion.

More information and a full transcript of this conversation are available here.

Learn more about The Purple Church Initiative, a resource for members and leaders of The United Methodist  Church.

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We live in a delight-deficient world, one where we, as adults, are driven to be productive and where play is seldom prioritized. The Rev. Tyler Strange reminds us that soul care means living from the inside out and that by rediscovering joy, we can unlock a playful spirit.

More information and a full transcript of this conversation are available here.

Learn more about and/or purchase Strange’s book, “What I Want My Children (and Me) to Know: Building Better Humans One Napkin at a Time,” here.

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Protecting sacred spaces is a passion for Selena Ruth Smith. A firefighter and deaconess, the cradle United Methodist shares tips for how all of us can promote fire safety in our local congregations.

More information and a full transcript of this conversation are available here.

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A lifelong United Methodist and career minister who describes himself as “conservative” discusses how, rather than focus on differences within the denomination, he concentrates on the common mission to make disciples, a space that supports The UMC’s “big tent” distinction.

More information and a full transcript of this conversation are available here.

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Discover how a “holy nudge” led Jordan Cramer on a journey from self-doubt to self-discovery while earning his Master of Divinity degree. The cradle United Methodist’s story of commitment and faith reveals God’s transformative power available to all of us.

More information and a full transcript of this conversation are available here.

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Mental wellness is a spectrum where each of us resides. Creating inclusive and diverse spaces so all of us can feel safe regardless of where we fall on the spectrum is a primary focus at First United Methodist Church in Holland, Michigan. First UMC’s director of education Jill DeJonge shares her own story of growing up with mental health diagnoses, along with practical tips that range from creating a zen zone for kids to how to have challenging conversations about mental health, all intended to nurture our mental wellbeing inside the church.

More information and a full transcript of this conversation are available here.

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“Never waste a good crisis,” Winston Churchill was quoted as saying. In Brian McLaren’s new book, “Life After Doom,” the pastor, author and American theologian urges us to confront the multifaceted crisis facing the world, especially climate change, political polarization, religious supremacy and growing economic inequality. With The United Methodist Church navigating its own crisis during the past few years, McLaren encourages those of us in the church to use the opportunity of all of these challenges to become something we wouldn’t have become any other way and to remember our Wesleyan heritage to claim our role to promote love and justice in the world.

More information and a full transcript of this conversation are available here.

Have a question or comment? Email us at [email protected]

Connect with The United Methodist Church by visiting UMC.org.